The best time to buy things, month by month
Every day you probably get e-mail, texts, tweets, and circulars announcing great sales. The days of watching the calendar and buying products at the time of year when prices are lowest would appear to be over.
Or are they? Consumer Reports' product-research experts, who monitor prices, have found that deep discounts for some things still go by the calendar. Some sales are tied to the introduction of new models, while others are long-standing traditions, like January white sales.
Use the month-by-month information below to see when you can typically find the best prices on a variety of products. But keep your eye on your apps, e-mail, and Sunday circulars, too, because there will always be exceptions. And bear in mind that the best time to save money isn't always when you'll find the best selection. Sales on some items occur when a season is coming to an end and inventories are thin.
January
Bedding
Linens
Toys
Treadmills and ellipticals
TVs
Winter clothing
(For more on these items, and shopping tips, see 6 products on deep discount in January.)
February
Humidifiers
Indoor furniture
Treadmills and ellipticals
(For more on these items, and shopping tips, see 4 products on deep discount in February.)
March
Digital cameras
Humidifiers
Small consumer electronics (MP3 players, DVD and Blu-ray players, etc.)
TVs
Winter sports gear
(For more on these items, and shopping tips, see 5 products on deep discount in March.)
April
Laptop computers
Desktop computers
Digital cameras
Lawn mowers
Spring clothing
(For more on these items, and shopping tips, see 5 products on deep discount in April.)
May
Athletic apparel and shoes
Camping and outdoor gear
Carpeting
Cordless phones
Lawn mowers
Mattresses
Small consumer electronics
(For more on these items, and shopping tips, see 7 products on deep discount in May.)
June
Camcorders
Carpeting
Computers
Indoor furniture
Pots, pans, and dishware
Small consumer electronics
Summer sports gear
Swimwear
(For more on these items, and shopping tips, see 8 products on deep discount in June)
July
Camcorders
Indoor furniture
Outdoor furniture
Swimwear
(For more on these items, and shopping tips, see Products on deep discount in July)
August
Air conditioners
Backpacks
Dehumidifiers
Outdoor furniture
Snow blowers
(For more on these items, and shopping tips, see 5 products on deep discount in August.)
September
Bikes
Digital cameras
Gas grills
Lawn mowers
Shrubs, trees, and perennials
Small consumer electronics
Snow blowers
(For more on these items, and shopping tips, see 7 products on sale in September.)
October
Bikes
Computers
Digital cameras
Gas grills
Lawn mowers
Winter coats
(For more on these items, and shopping tips, see 6 products on sale in October.)
November
Baby products
Bikes
Camcorders
Gas grills
GPS navigators
Toys
TVs
(For more on these items, and shopping tips, see 7 products on deep discount in November.)
December
Bikes
Camcorders
Gas grills
GPS navigators
Home appliances, large and small
Small consumer electronics
Toys
TVs
(For more on these items, and shopping tips, see 8 products on deep discount in December.)
Want an even better deal? Haggle, haggle, haggle.
In a Consumer Reports National Research Center survey of 2,000 American adults about their haggling habits, 89 percent of people who said they haggled received a better price at least once.
To increase the odds you can negotiate a better deal, remember that nothing is off limits. You should always be polite. And make sure you know what constitutes a fair price before you start. For more tips on becoming an expert haggler, read our tips on effective bargaining.
More from Consumer Reports:
Best cookware from Consumer Reports’ tests
You can remodel your kitchen for as little as $5,000
Most and least reliable refrigerator brands
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